A spacecraft measures the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by a planet…

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

A spacecraft measures the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by a planet when it is at three different distances:

R

2R

and

3R

from the planet's centre. Let the corresponding forces be

F_1

F_2

and

F_3

respectively. Which option gives the correct ascending order of these forces? (a)

F_1 < F_2 < F_3

(b)

F_1 = F_2 = F_3

(c)

F_3 < F_2 < F_1

(d)

F_2 < F_3 < F_1